The Horrors of Public Washrooms

One of the tenets of BWG is I neither embellish nor sugar-coat what it's like to live in Hong Kong.

I prefer to give it to you straight. The truth is strange enough; there's no need for hyperbole.

With that in mind, let's discuss public washrooms. They used to be horrendous but have been getting better. The government has either renovated or cleaned some of the worst locations, but some places are still in dire need an overhaul.

One such facility is in Victoria Park, near the swimming pool. Not just a restroom, it has a changing area and showers. I change clothes after training, but I wouldn't shower there unless someone paid me: a lot. Despite the attendant, the floor is nasty. The urinals are a trough located around the corner from the showers.

Compounding the issue are stalls with Asian-style squat toilets rather than Western commodes. Some of the renovated facilities have both types, but this restroom doesn't. That's a huge problem when someone is suffering a certain intestinal malady that results in what can best be described as a "splatter-poopy". That was what confronted me after I'd changed.

Someone had left the revolting mess in the last stall, spread it outside and tracked it past the shower into the changing room. I went to the farthest place away from the slop that I could. While I was occupied, a young man walked past me, went to the corner, through the crap on the floor and did his thing. He then walked out (without washing his hands), spreading the filth. He was either oblivious or congenitally stupid.

Appalled, I washed my hands and left, taking care to avoid the muddy footprints.

The attendant on duty had either been goofing off or didn't feel like cleaning it up. I hope whoever made the mess had a change of pants, because I can't see how he left with them unsoiled. I don't understand why people have to abuse a public washroom [insert bad pun about them not giving a s*** here].

When I got to the mall near my home, I vigourously wiped my shoes on the bleach-soaked carpets (an anti-atypical pneumonia measure) that had been laid down at the entrance. I'd be damned if I'd return home before getting my shoes clean.

Hong Kong has a long way to go before it gets rid of its village mentality. Be warned: if you plan to visit, make sure you use private washrooms as often as you can.

You'll be spared the horrors of public washrooms.

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